Shalom Partner and Friend of Israel,

Light is defined as life, as seen in… John 1:4, “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” Those have faith through Him will have Eternal Life and this “life” is a gift brought from God into a dying world. The fact that God is light sets up a natural contrast with darkness. If light is a metaphor for righteousness and goodness - then darkness signifies evil and sin; “God is light and in Him there is NO darkness at all... If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" - 1 John 1:5-7. Here we are NOT told that God is a light - but that He IS light. Light is part of His essence, as is love (1 John 4:8). The message is that God is completely, unreservedly, absolutely Holy, with NO sin, NO taint of iniquity and NO hint of injustice! If we do not have the light, we do not know God. Those who know God, who walk with Him, are of the light and walk in the light. They are made partakers of God’s divine nature, “…having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” - 2 Peter 1:4.

One of the great themes of the Book of Isaiah is; “spiritual light” and “darkness,” and the early chapters include a call; “Come, house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord” - Isaiah 2:5. This still remains God’s call and a condition of fellowship with Him today. Isaiah makes three strong statements about “light” and “darkness” including a prophecy about Yeshua (Jesus) with a warning to those who darken the light; “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” - Isaiah 5:20. It is characteristic of “spiritual darkness” and warning that our Holy Almighty God sees as abominable …but, rebellious, godless men and women of today see as honourable! Whatever is evil is today approved of as good by the ungodly as they love “darkness” more than “light!” Paul, having listed several evil practices, goes on to say that people; “…not only do such things but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” - Romans 1:29-32.

God’s law gives light; “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no dawn” - Isaiah 8:20. People who have NO “dawn” remain in the night. They do NOT see the “light” of day. People who have NO “light” in them and who have experienced NO “sunrise” in their souls can be enlightened by only one source - the law and the testimony of God. Today of course God’s Law or New Testament Covenant has come to us through Yeshua (Jesus) who did NOT come to abandon the Law but to fulfil it! He was and still is “the light” of mankind bringing His grace and truth (Matthew 5:16-17; John 1:4-5, 17-18). 

Two thousand Years ago the Saviour of the world, our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) said; “I AM the Light of the World!” Since that time, Ages have begun and ended - continents and civilizations have been discovered - kingdoms and empires have fallen …and some of these things have, for a time, seemed larger. For a time, they obscured the figure and “Light” of the Lord …but in the long run and over the course of this 2,000-year journey …they have all passed away and God’s Word stands! Everything changed except our Lord and when we visit Israel and see the ruins and rubble of Capernaum it reminds us of the pages of history that have passed …but, it also reminds us that Yeshua (Jesus) remains the same, unchanged …and everything changes except Him! He is simply changeless and timeless! For example; although a mountain or a house or even a hand can appear larger than the sun when in front of us, and, may for a time obscure the sun …but the reality is that its true magnitude and actual size is, so enormous and so colossal that the highest mountain on earth is nothing in comparison! The sun will continue on its journey across the world each day and shine its light even if it doesn’t appear to do so in the short run. When we look back it becomes clearer in the long run. The sun will produce “light” just as commanded by God to do so way back in Genesis 1 …it is changeless! God is changeless and so are His Laws!

We think of night (darkness) as a period of time and in sense it is… however, it is not so much as a period of time but a state of being as it isn’t dark because it is “night-time” …but rather the other way around. Night is the effect of the earth’s turning away from the “light” – the sun. Night is the earth dwelling in its own shadow. God is “light” so when we turn away from God, we create our “night” and “darkness.” When we turn away from; God’s presence; His truth and His Word - then sin and “darkness” fills that gap or place in the heart. We end up dwelling in our own shadows and focusing upon self and then gradually steep in unbelief. Until we turn back to God who is THE “light” we are lost! 

If we were look around us at night-time in the “darkness” we wouldn’t see anything as we see everything only by “light” of the sun. In fact, we can re-word this to read; “we see everything only by the light of God’s Son!” You see, everything is illuminated by the sun – the beautiful, the ugly, the good, the bad, the holy and the unholy. Everything is seen clearly in “light” of the sun and is illuminated by the sun; lands, oceans, trees, flowers, hills or mounts of grass but the garbage too. Good and evil are lit by the same sun. Our God is a just God! What if the sun only shone on the righteous but NOT on sinners and evildoers? Or, if the sun only gave its “light” and warmth to those who deserved it? The world would alter completely!

The sun must shine regardless of the state of the world! We as true believers MUST continue to shine in the deep “darkness” in a secular, godless world no matter what and regardless of the circumstances as we are called the; “…candle of the Lord” - Proverbs 20:27.

Light exposes that which is hidden in darkness - it shows things as they really are. To walk in the light means to know and have a relationship with God our Abba, Father, understand the truth, and live in righteousness. As believers in Christ we must confess any “darkness” within, repent and allow God to shine His glorious “light” through! We cannot sit idly by and watch others continue in the “darkness” of sin and must speak the truth knowing that those in “darkness” are destined for eternal separation from God.

A candle in the “darkness” of the night… If we were to light a “candle” while the sun was still shining, it would be in harmony with its surroundings and blend in with the “light” of the day. However, when the sun sets that same candle would NO longer just blend in but shine brightly. It would stand out more dramatically! It was not the candle that changed - but rather everything else faded succumbing to the “darkness” and they changed.

The “candle” that shines in the daylight; is like a nominal believer who blends in with the culture, the world, and their liberal political correctness. The “candle” that shines in the darkness of night; represents a believer who shines brighter in the midst of the present anti-God, anti-Bible, anti-Christian apostate and rebellious culture of today. Just like all things faded when “night-time” came -  so have the “light” of God’s Holy Word, Law and Commandments …faded to blend in with sinful lawlessness and godless laws of mankind.  We who are true Judeo-Christian God-fearing believers must NOT allow the world to snuff out our “light” and must stand firm even if it means persecution. The candle that shines in the day-time can hardly be seen - but the candle of that shines bright in the darkness can be seen from far away. It is the very time when it’s hardest to shine …but it is when most needed and is most powerful! We are never to fear or be intimidated by the “darkness” as we are called to be “a light to the godless world.” Only light can drive out darkness! God did not create evil. Just as darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of God! (Albert Einstein)

The Light Shines on Everyone…  “...by the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness shall see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” - Isaiah 9:1-2. (see also Matthew 4:12-16) Galilee, the land where the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun had settled, was one of the first areas to be captured and conquered by the King of Assyria (2 Kings 15:29). However, the real “yoke” and the “oppressor” of these people (Isaiah 9:4) was not an invading foreign nation but their yoke was sin. Their oppressor was Satan, who oppresses the whole world. The “spiritual forces of darkness” (Ephesians 6:12) had long been at work spreading ignorance, idolatry, and confusion (Isaiah 9:16), and they are still doing so today the world over (1John 5:19-20). Isaiah looked forward to a day when the Son of God will sojourn in Galilee to bring the “light” of His Gospel to its people - but that was only the beginning! Yeshua (Jesus) sent His Apostles; “men of Galilee” to the remotest parts of the earth, so the Gospel might spread its - “light into the entire world.” (Acts 1:8-11; Acts 2:7-11; Mark 16:15).

“Darkness" in the Old Testament has two Hebrew word meanings: (1) “khosek” (pronounced kho-shek) and (2) “araphel”  - and in the New Testament the Greek word is “skotos” which is an evocative word. If light symbolizes God - darkness connotes everything that is anti-God; the wicked (Proverbs 2:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-7); judgment (Exodus 10:21; Matthew 25:30), and death (Psalm 88:12). Salvation brings “light” to those in “darkness” (Isaiah 9:2). Although “darkness” is opaque to man, it is transparent to God (Psalm 139:12). Indeed, God can veil Himself in darkness at moments of great revelation (Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalm 18:11). The word “araphel” and has a deeper meaning that is something more than just darkness. In Exodus 20:21 we read; “…and Moses approached the “araphel” (darkness) where God was.” This darkness is a different type of darkness and may be alluded to in Exodus 10:21 which mentions the “plague of darkness” (khosek) that could be felt. We often associate darkness only with evil, and light with good …but, interestingly, most of the times when God appears it is in this “araphel” such as we saw in Exodus 20:21 and in 2 Samuel 22:10; 1 Kings 8:12; Job 22:13; Psalm 97:2 and other places. You see God rules the “darkness.” There is NO thought that “darkness” is equal in power to God’s “light.”

 The absolute, sovereign God rules over the darkness and the powers of evil. This is evident in several ways: Firstly, God knows the darkness. He knows where it is (Job 34:22) and what it contains (Daniel 2:22). Secondly, God rules over the darkness because He created it (Isaiah 45:7; Amos 4:13; 5:8). Thirdly, God uses the darkness for His own purposes: to hide Himself from the sight of men (Psalm 18:11; 1 Kings 8:12) and to bring His judgment on evildoers (Deuteronomy 28:28-19; Matthew 8:12; 22:13), evil nations (Ezekiel 30:18-19), and false prophets (Jeremiah 23:12; Micah 3:6; Revelation 16:10). Finally, God rules over the darkness in time of God's ultimate judgment at End of Age and the Day of the Lord, is portrayed in both the Old Testament and New Testaments as a day of darkness (Joel 2:2; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:15; Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12-17).

Did you know that there was and will be once again a “three days” of darkness? “And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch out they hand towards heaven: and may there be darkness upon the land of Egypt, so thick that it may be felt. And Moses stretch forth his hand towards heaven: and there came horrible darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.” – Exodus 10: 21-23. This was a judgement upon Egypt in the 9^th plague. What would the next three days of darkness be like? When the Scribes and the Pharisees asked Yeshua (Jesus) for a “sign.” He told predicted that “the sign of the Son of Man” to be like “the sign of Jonah”: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. - Matthew 12:39-40.

Darkness speaks of not only about God’s judgement but also deliverance from our chaos… Consider how the world began; initially the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. It was formless at first. It was in a state of chaos. It needed the systematic reordering of the stuff God initially had made, and the record of Genesis 1 is a delineation of how God transformed chaos and gave it order until he could pronounce it to be ‘very good.’ From the chaos of darkness to ordered light. 

There was morning and there was evening day by day. It is the same picture we have of divine redemption on Golgotha! The first impression is one of chaos. The chief priests of Israel and the Romans have condemned Israel’s Messiah to die on a cross. The religious leaders of the people are mocking the promised Christ whom God has sent. The Roman occupying forces and the Jewish conquered people are bonding in their hatred for Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth. Pilate the Roman governor and Herod the Jewish king have become friends because of their mutual contempt for our Lord. They joined together in condemning Yeshua …and Jew and Gentile are both rejoicing in his death. Even the underclass, represented by two convicted felons, is also expressing their hatred of Him. Here is a scene of terrible inhumanity, of torture and slow death, and people are mocking the dying men especially the Lord. In both instances it is a picture of dark confusion! The darkness and chaos before time began and the darkness and chaos before our redemption began!

The book of Romans contains more than just the great plan of salvation… It carries the plan of how to live an effective Christian life in the midst of the storms of great “darkness.” It is a book that teaches what time it is and how we are to rule and reign with Christ in practical ways. Romans 13:11-14; “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now, salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not is sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” We are surely living in a season in which the activity in the spirit world has been this heightened and in a time of “great divide!” Just look at what is happening not only on the corrupt lying Media, the sin of darkness of homosexuality and promiscuous living is now accepted as good and anyone who opposes such is persecuted. The murder of babies is now legalized through so-called “family planning” or “planned parenthood” and a birth control has become a choice with abortion. We believe that we have entered a time of the “Days of Acceleration” and “suddenlies because God will soon judge the wicked!” Why? Because, our God is a Holy, Righteous God and of “Light!” In Him there is NO “darkness!” “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light in the darkness did shine and the darkness did NOT perceive it.”- John 1:4-5. We need light to see! 

The absence of “light” leads one to stumble and fall… And, so without the “light” of God’s Word – the Bible and His Son, Yeshua (Jesus) - we simply do not see! Without God’s Word and the Holy Spirit - we cannot perceive truth! The world cannot come to grips of their fallen state unless they know truly who the God of the Bible is. One way to look at the fallen state of man in “darkness” - of temporary death. You see, Heaven which is seen as God’s Light and Hell which is seen as Satan’s domain of “darkness” both exist! Mankind was changed at the “fall” in the Garden of Eden and so death entered into the world. The Rabbi’s say that man was genetically changed at the “fall” …but, Yeshua (Jesus Christ) paved the way as the “second Adam” for our Salvation! If we do not see what the Lord has done for us then we are in darkness! Our hope is in our Lord and “darkness” cannot extinguish “light” because He is THE Light!

“Surely the Lord God does nothing, UNLESS He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” -  Amos 3:7. Today there is an invisible WAR between light and darkness – good and evil ….and the world that we are living in is heading blindly into deep darkness;  “The god of this world (Satan) has blinded the eyes” of so many people, yet for those who wish to see; “…the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God” shall illumine them. He has “shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”- 2 Corinthians 4:4-6. We are marching into critical times and there is a dramatic escalation of activity in the spirit world being mirrored in the natural realm. Both dimensions reflect the intensity of the Last Days heavenly battle that seems to be kicking into higher gear over the past decade. Not only are these times extremely crucial, they are days of great advances.

The Whole World is going into gross darkness… These events which are about to be unleashed on this world, even though global in nature, appear to focus on one thing – the “tiny” Nation of Israel – a speck of land compared to the massive, rich, and powerful Muslim enemies that surround her on all sides. A land God calls His own and given to the Jewish people by God Himself. The Bible warns the rest of the world will NOT go unpunished for dispersing or dividing His Land and especially Jerusalem! God warns clearly, He will NOT tolerate this and the enemies of Israel are the enemies of GOD!  “I (God) will BLESS those who bless you (Israel) and will CURSE those who curse you!" (Genesis 27:29; Genesis 12:3; Numbers 24:9)

The division is being made clear today between unbelievers and believers – those who love God and are His people, His true Church, those who choose His Word; the Bible - living in His Kingdom of Light even while on the darkness is covering the earth (Colossians 1:3; Isaiah 60:2). 

Think of how Prophets and Disciples had addressed the careless and disobedient people about the “Day of the Lord” …that was coming? The people of that day pinned all their hopes on the Second Coming of the Messiah. What a utopia that would be for them, they imagined – surely, He would overcome all their enemies so they could get on with their lives, prospering, eating and drinking to their fullest satisfaction. Amos speaks sternly to them; “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be “darkness,” not “light.” It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the Lord be darkness - not light but pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?” - Amos 5:18-20. And then we read only three chapters later… “‘In that day,’ declares the Sovereign LORD, ‘I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.’”- Amos 8:9.

We must ALL appear someday before the judgment seat of the God …and that “Day” will be darkness and not light! How searching will that encounter with God be? For every idle word we must ALL give account on that day! God is light, and those who choose to live their lives in the kingdom of darkness and must repent. When light meets darkness what happens? The darkness goes! Walking in the light is a matter of life and death for the Christian. If we don't walk in the light now, we won't later!

God’s Word is true! He IS watching to see how the nations are treating His people. God will have mercy on Israel through Gentile believers acting as mediators towards them. This is one of the most amazing revelations ever given to the church – an opportunity to do something that carries the highest priority in the heart of God. Yet, sadly, so few have seen the potential and the rewards of serving God in this manner - as agents of mercy to Israel and the Jewish people! Israel was and still is despised today and a despised nation continually turning away from God BUT nothing ever altered the purpose of God for that nation. The despised element is always a noticeable element in the purpose of God. When the Saviour of the world came, He came of that despised nation; like Israel… He Himself was; “despised and rejected by men,” …and there is that despised element; “…things that are despised God has chosen,” 1 Corinthians 1:28. Now, more than at any time is the time to support Israel and the Jewish people - the Lord’s Brethren! We are witnessing the nations and people turning their backs on Israel. Thank you once again for your prayers and generous support!

We hope that you enjoy and become more informed by our work. We serve an awesome God and we are humbled by this opportunity to bring you this information. With Shalom to you and your family always,

Alf & Julie Saunders

01^st November, 2019

This can be done SECURELY through PAYPAL by clicking on "Make A Donation" LINK above or by visiting our Donations page where you will find the list of ministries where you can be a blessing to. Thank you for your love and support for God's chosen people (Ruth 2:12).

John Bunyan once said, "You have never lived successfully until you have done something for someone who can NEVER repay you!"